Beannachtai! Greetings!
-Speak English
-Not get sick from the food/water
-Safe
-and....... just fulfill that primal need to physically move through a new landscape
....sounds a little less adventerous than usual....must be getting older!
Well, it delivered all that and more. Some of the many aspects I enjoyed:
-Super friendly, helpful people
-Reconnecting with 4 friends.
-Great weather; only 2 days of 'lashing' rain
-Awesome scenery, with plenty of beaches
-Well kept properties. Pride in one's house and space is quite evident. (Even Conor made an effort😆--inside joke)
-Very respectful drivers, who would stay behind until safe to pass, as opposed to many places including Canada, where you hear a horn telling you they are coming past regardless.
-Peaceful, empty churches to charge my phone and powerbank and maybe do a bit of laundry
-Easy wildcamping opportunities
-Bike signs everywhere telling drivers to leave 1.5 metres of space
-A profusion of mostly quiet, light traffic, L-local roads.
-No tipping!
-Tree tunnels
-Garbage cans, esp in Northern Ireland
-Flowers on most bridges and flowers on old bikes
-Very well kept properties/homes, usually with colourful flowers
-Blackberries all the way from day 1
-Creative murals
-Best behaved dogs ever. Even if they barked and gave chase, they would stop at the edge of their property and never come on the road!
-Palms, ferns, reeds....
I could go on. In short...many f...ing wow! moments!
I managed to bike 2000kms doing a clockwise loop from Dublin, with an extra 300kms tacked on at the end. July 1 to the 29th. Wild camped the whole way except for one campsite and staying with friends. And only 1 flat! First ever on this bike.
As for the page of stamps? That's from my childhood stamp collection. I suspect that it played a role in my desire to explore the world, examining the images in detail and wondering what it might be like in that particular country.
Photos are in Chronological order.
M
The quiet road up Mt. Leinster in the the Blackstairs mtns.
Not what you first thought?
...always searching for the next food stop, and my daily dose of raw kale.😝
Love the security camera behind a school to keep me even safer.😂
Love the colourful cop cars. Didn't seem to be many around. No big drama in the peaceful countryside.
This lovely couple was full of advice on which way to go next! Which is how I rolled on this trip...made it up as I went along.
Shawn?
This was awesome. Husband wife team. 30 years of building up the unique outdoor art adventure. Sadly its their last year of operation, unless someone buys it. Worth checking out the website: https://www.theewe.com/
Kurt...
....and Sheena, were generous with their time, as I enjoyed lengthy chats with both of them.
Mildmaidens....
just wow.....
I hope their work lives on......
Couple from the Netherlands, touring in their VW using ioverlander and park4night apps, like myself, to camp for free.
...like this. All forests in Ireland are really tree farms and with their straight rows, make for easy places to camp in.
Far more mountains than I had expected.
Colourful, compact, well kept, town centres
Great porridge everywhere!
Why give 1.5 metres when you can give the whole lane?
I'm still looking for Shaun
Could it be?
The quiet road to Dunloe Gap
Shaun is everywhere: From Wiki: The European Commission has taken legal action against Ireland for failing to address sheep overgrazing, which harms ecologically sensitive areas, though the issue was raised in 1997 and has continued to be a problem. Overgrazing, caused by too many sheep, can damage vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and increase soil erosion. While Ireland has a large sheep population, with over 5 million sheep, the concern is not just about numbers but about their impact on specific fragile ecosystems.
Dunloe Gap
😂😂😂 Wonder what the regular food fare was.
Carrigafoyle Castle
...with a full moon rising behind the ruins....
Heavy morning dews were common. Could've used the fly, but I wanted to watch the moon rise....
Flowers and bridges.....
...and quality murals, with an ocean theme more often than not.
Ireland just decommissioned their last coal fired power plant. Windmills are everywhere. This is the river Shannon, with dolphins swimming as we passed by in the ferry.
....as well as flowers and bikes
That was a bit of work! Ya I go slow😆
Aussie couple from Brisbane touring around parts of the world.
The cats name is bean and the hence the name of her coffee trailer. The cat was not named after the coffee bean😉
Not typical. Busses on backroads due to a big music festival.
Plenty of surfers around the country. 15C water in the summer. Plenty of eldery get in without a wetsuite for a daily dip.
going.....
gone. It was still warm.....how could I not?
The famed cliffs of Moher. Free entry to cyclists :)
I used parts of the Eurovelo route 1, which goes from Norway to Portugal. Not sure what the 2 is....a local route I guess.
Camping in the Burren region by the sea....
Its use seemed most prevelant in NW Ireland.
Frank....and man who writes and recites his poetry for anyone who will listen. His fave theme seemed to be rants against religion. Very entertaining! He was a roofer, but fell off a roof.
Tober to the core.
Did I mention the natives are friendly?
Ready to play a jig.
Crashed a funeral....There is a backstory to this...too long to type out.
Every beach is different....
The best cold camp food!
Colourful walls....
Colourful boats.....Killybegs harbour
The Donegal region in the NW is where the most Irish is spoken. You hear it quite often and most road signs omit the English.
? Strumming? Trimming?
EEFFOC coffee, Carrick, Co. Donegal. I forgot the dudes name. His own little business. Delish.
Love the name.
More wild and taller than the cliffs of Moher. Sliabh Liag.
Shaun yet again?
..by the gurggling river
Early bird gets the worm....
Jack? is that you?
The most important piece of expensive, high tech equiment on the bridge of this ferry: the espresso machine!
Errigal mtn 751m Tallest Peak in Donegal county
Had to visit an island while I was already on an island.
Cormorants abound....
Billy?
Scotty?
That was delish! at 3pm on a warm day. Double zero they call it. The pubs are just the best.
Did Duffy get out alive?
A frenchman walking the entire circumference of Ireland. Boy did he ever need a bath. In fact that what he was looking for at the moment. I directed him to the river I just past over.
Approaching Mt. Errigal. 5.5 km and 511 metres elevation gain. I could've done that! Note the cycle route has to take part of an N road or national route, which has its share of trucks. Plenty of advertising that cyclists are on the road!
Climbing up to the bell tower.....of the church below.
Looks like something out of Bolivia.
What a sweet place to camp....watching the colour change on the mtn in the evening light.
....whilst snacking on wild raspberries.
Fantastic backroad on the Eurovelo route....
...and the ubiquitous blackberry
crashed a funeral earlier, might as well invite myself to a wedding.
Fanad lighthouse....had a tour....
....inside the fresnel lense
Dinner for one.
Wilbur? I can't believe its you!
Got an invite into the newly purchased VW california model.
Couple on a golfing holiday from the UK. Ruth and Paul. Their daughter just completed the Pacific Crest Trail! Thanks for the cuppa!
Shaun? I barely recognize thee. All painted up in the Donegal Hurling team colours for the Final match next week.
Wet but warm.
Spent the night camped with this homeless dude. First night in northern ireland, camped next to a military shooting range. Had cameras pointed on us the the grassy car park. The guy says he likes to stay here because the cameras keep the trouble causing teenagers away.
Paddy from Dublin, is riding around Ireland this summer, intent on cycling the entire coastline! May the luck of the Irish be with you laddy. (Does that sound corny?)
Downhill Palace
Mussenden Temple
12C ocean temp at Portstewart. A bit colder up north.
Another Kevin, spent a half hour helping me get my data plan up and running for Northern Ireland! Thanks!
Hashir is an international student from Pakistan at Ulster Belfast, studying computer science. Making 13 pounds an hour working parking at the British Open.
Road was closed to vehicles for about 10km but bikes could ride through.
I wouldn't have recognized any famous golfer had he walked in.
Is that a firearm on his right hip? I thought English bobbies were only allowed a billy club? Stop! or I'll say stop again! (That b/c he's not English Steve!)
Golf fans....excluding yours truly
Golfer in black. Hmm...I seemed to have misplaced....
Alien creatures wondering what all the fuss over a little white ball is all about.
I don't think the golfers are much interested in the lovely beach beside them. The ultimate sand trap!
Dunluce castle....used in Game of Thrones
Giant's Causeway
....more giant's causeway. Be great to do some hikes in this area.
Just another average night by the sea😉....dreaming of Sweet Marie....a.
I should've had one a day, to add to the challenge. Apparently the real stuff is only 4%
never a dull moment...
I wouldn't think that coffee would mix well for such a laid back game.
Torr head (Thanks for the tip Aisling), super steep hills. Scotland 12 miles away.
Challenging riding in this area!
Which one r u Shaun?
Hurling. I'd never heard of this game before. It's a big deal in some parts of Ireland with 80,000 people showing up for the final in Dublin.
Bus driving is their regular gig. Some speedy production bikes they are riding. I took their route advice to get me into Belfast.
Watched the Hurling final in a pub. With a 00 Guiness. It was nutz.
? really....coming into Belfast.
Pugz on his way to work at the Uni of Ulster in Belfast. Researching ways to shed and retain heat in buildings.
Posh digs!
Aisling was Ramon and Carla's first teacher at the British School in Ecuador! By co-incidence, Carla re-read her first report card before I left home, and stated that Miss Aisling described her personality just as she is today! We toured with them about 15 years ago in the Amazon :) https://tober-zambrano.blogspot.com/search/label/Cycling%20400km-Baeza%20to%20Mendez%20in%20the%20Ecuadorian%20Amazon
Sadly, Aisling is undergoing chemo for breast cancer at the moment. I'm sure her cheerful, can do disposition, along with the support of her family with get her through!
The queen mother vicky....lording it over us peons...in downtown Belfast.
Clockwise from left: Anita, Lily, Aisling and Adrian aka (Pugz) Missing in action: Dusty the cat. Thanx for the hospitality and the great feast! Did I have fourths??😋 So great to see you again, especially meeting your engaging children!
Somewhere under Belfast....
In front of the Titanic museum....
For those into Game of Thrones.
That's it. I'm keeping mine from now on.
Shaun? but how you have changed. Have you any? Bah Bah....Blah Blah....
Imagine runners training for marathons like this.
The guy couldn't sing or write a song, yet I paid good money to watch him stumble around, drunk on stage in Vegas in 86, cursing the audience.
Entrance to Tollymore park.
Young kid doing a summer job...Barrista!
Spry young thing....
This is actually the back of the church, away from the road.
Found this interesting, as every bit of land usable land is being exploited.
Coming back into Dublin....full circle.
Meaning....normally they are not friendly towards seniors?
A group of local riders who guided me though downtown Dublin via the port area. Very well signed though with a bike route all the way. Well done Dublin! I hugged the ocean from north to south and kept on going to meet up with another friend, 300kms south.
Dublin city centre. Full circle. Almost a perfect 2000km.
What a beast! I'd love to have crashed their buffet after 2000kms of cycling!
Rules are made to be broken. Along with bones when you hit the rocks below the water level.
Twin brothers started this years ago and are known in the worldwide vegan community. Sadly I got there too late.
High above Greystones...
However, the next day I was befriended by Fergus who took me to his daughter Sarah's vegan cafe called the Locogrocer.ie in the next major town on the coast, Arklow. And then proceded to shout me lunch! Thanks Fergus!
This is what keeps the old legs spinning!
Conor! We met 4 years ago on my first bike tour in my own country: Lilloet to Tofino and back. https://tober-zambrano.blogspot.com/2021/07/bike-touring-bc-lillooet-to-tofino-and.html
...
....and more forgetful.
A few days into it, we met at a campsite and rode together for week.
He'd just got back from hiking around Mont Blanc and came up and met me a few days north of where he is living in Tramore.
...and so we continued our journey for a few days...
Popping wheelies just like 4 years ago. Then he rode down the coast to Mexico and came back to work in Squamish.
Just like cake, cookies and ice cream....just can't get enuf!
With red and neon green shirts, I hope so! Cycle touring is an act of faith!
A local explaing the long tradition of the Novena celebration is his little town.
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Taking advantage of a chair on sale in SuperValu. Or ...touring cyclist....cheap....in more ways than one😆
Gotta love all the tree tunnels!
Dealcholized version?
A couple of spry ladies chatting us up before they go for a swim. With me standing half naked after taking a beach shower. Hence the interest😂😂😂
Conor in a pensive mood. Missing Aisling, his girlfriend😉
Camped by the Hook lighthouse on the last night. "Oldest original operating lighthouse in the world"
Have bivy sack? Will sleep in the middle of the trail.
With a hearty breakfast the next morning....porridge for me!
...onto the last of about 7-8 ferries I took on this trip
Its just what it says it is. Well, we used to block traffic playing hockey as kids.
End of journey. Great to meet Conor's parents, but too short of a visit with them, as I had to catch a train back to Dublin the next day. Great hospitality and Conor even did my laundry for me😄 Hope to see Conor next summer as he sets out to do the Tour Divide.
I did mention the fantastic murals didn't I?
Too easy....napping at 170kph
And then bike up to my only hotel of the whole trip, near the airport
The great big pointy thing that no one seems to be able to explain what it is...other than it is a great big pointy thing.
I was going to sleep in the aiport (yes there is an app for that) but Conor talked some sense into my overly frugal sensibilities.
Shaun? Have you retired?
Finally!!!!....Its Shaun the sheep!!!!! Ramon and Carla loved this series when they were younger. We adults enjoyed it too! It's probably an English production, but they are enjoying what most Irish seem to walk out of every convenience store with.....a soft serve 99 flake!
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Its just what it says it is. Well, we used to block traffic playing hockey as kids.
News flash september 4:
